G-Eazy was on tour in Australia when Spears’ people contacted him about getting them to work together. At first, he thought it was a prank. But he ended up performing the song alongside Spears during her awkward MTV Video Music Awards appearance. “I was on the stage with one of the biggest artists in the world,” he says. “It was an honor to be in that space at that time.”

“Me, Myself and I” (Bebe Rexha and G-Eazy)

This fiery pairing netted G-Eazy one of his biggest hits, cracking the Top 10 pop chart and hitting No. 1 on the rap singles. “I didn’t even have to think twice,” he says. “She’s a great artist.”

“No Limit” (G-Eazy featuring A$AP Rocky and Cardi B)

This single from “The Beautiful & Damned” not only features the Harlem rapper A$AP Rocky but the year’s breakout hit-maker Cardi B (“Bodak Yellow”). “She killed it,” he says.

“Him & I” (G-Eazy featuring Halsey)

They might be dating, but their bond goes beyond the bedroom. “That raw connection between two performers is something you can’t fully plan,” he says. “We feed off each other.”

“F— Donald Trump” (YG featuring G-Eazy and Macklemore)

The politically charged track served as the centerpiece for G-Eazy’s performance at the Band Together Bay Area concert with Metallica and Dead & Company. He knew it would cause ripples, but also knew it had to be said. “I have a platform that can reach people,” he says. “I’m going to talk about this.”

Aidin Vaziri is the pop music critic for The San Francisco Chronicle. He interviews artists, reviews concerts, reports on emerging trends on the local scene, covers festivals and keeps an ear out for new music. He has written for Rolling Stone, National Geographic, MTV, Vibe, Amazon and other outlets.